Aquarium equipment



March 17, 1959 J. s. LAcl-:Y

AQUARIUM EQUIPMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6, 1956 Joseph S. LaceymvENToR AGENT' J. S. LACEY AQUARIUM EQUIPMENT March 17, ,1959

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1956 Fig. 3

ji nntllnnlxllnlllnlllnll m m N W y E e V fr L bp l e l .x J ..2 Y VQ 9.a B 6 3 m M v W 2 0 M 8 M 2 4 9 f a 5 8 Il IIA f 5 l l f l T f lllm n.8 7 V l States This invention generally relates to improvements inaquarium equipment and particularly relates to an improved and noveldevice for filtering, aerating and conditioning the water in anaquarium.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple andcompact device for aerating, filtering, circulating, conditioning andclearing the water in an aquarium.

Prior devices were provided to aerate, filter and circulate the water byusing compressed air forced through a porous stone in a vertical tube inthe aquarium so that the water was drawn through the sand in the bottomof the tank and forced up the tube by the air to flow over the top ofthe tube. Such prior devices had no effect on the water coloration aftersand filtration and had no effect on the condition of the water, i. e.,whether hard or soft, acid or alkaline and are largely ineffective asfar as the overall problem of water treatment and maintenance isconcerned.

With the present invention,.not only is the water aerated, filtered andcirculated in the tank, in a manner far more effective and simpler thanwith known devices, but in addition, the water is conditionedandvcleared. Thus, the water is cleared of coloration after sandfiltration and the condition of the water is changed to overcomedeleterious water conditions, i. e., too hard or soft, etc.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a new watercirculation means which will prevent splashing of the water, as it isfiltered and recirculated, on lights or other fixtures that may be inuse at the top of the tank.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide anadjustable water exhaust tube that can be vertically adjusted to varythe height thereof and can be rotatably adjusted to vary the directionof flow of the exhaust water at the top of the tank.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a divided airrelease chamber in which an air release is located so that the passageof air bubbles up to the exhaust tube is facilitated before the smallbubbles have an opportunity to combine into larger bubbles with theconsequent operational advantage that more air surface is exposed to thewater.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide ananti-coloration and conditioning means through which the water passes asit is drawn into the air release chamber and passes up therefrom throughthe exhaust tube, such means serving to condition and clear the Water.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device of theabove type, which device is formed to be positionable at any desiredplace in a tank and which is simple, compact and easily operated andcontrolled in an efficient and inexpensive manner.

The foregoing and ancillary objects are attainedl by this invention, thepreferred embodiments of which are arent ICC set forth in the followingdescription and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the device of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, partly in section, and showing thesame positioned in an aquarium tank;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detailed vertical sectional view of a modified form ofoutlet for the water exhaust tube;

Fig. 5 is a detailed side elevational view of a modified form ofconnection and mounting for the air release chamber;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the form of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a detailed side elevational view of a modifor fish and thelike and it is so designed and constructed as to perform the combinedfunctions of aerating, filtering, circulating, conditioning and clearingthe water. Thus, the device 10 performs all necessary functions tomaintain the water in proper and perfect condition.

The device 10, as shown in Figs, 1 3, comprises a container 12, which isillustrated as rectangular, but may be of any other shape. The container12 has a flat bottom wall 14 and upstanding end and side walls. One sidewall 16, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided with perforations 18 for theflow of water into the container. A flanged lid 20 fits over the upperedges of the side and end walls and encloses the container. Except forthe side wall 16, the container is imperforate. The container houses aquantity of water conditioning and coloration material 22. Such materialmay be carbon, zeolite, peat or a similar material, which is active toclear the water of coloration after sand filtration and to condition thewater. Such material may be a mixture of known materials suitable forsuch purpose. The bottom wall 14 of the container is adapted lto seat onthe bottom wall 24 of a tank 26 with the sand 28 overlying and hidingthe container.

Positioned within the container is a perforated suction pipe 30 which isdisposed longitudinally within the container on the bottom wall so as tobe under the material 22 and is disposed adjacent the side wall opposedto the perforated side wall 16. In this regard, the perforations 18 inthe side wall 16 are formed adjacent the upper end thereof so that thewater entering the container, through the perforation 18, is forced totravel, in an effective Aand thorough manner, through the material 22 toreach the pipe 30. The perforations in the pipe are of a small diameterso as to exclude any of the filter material. The pipe 30 has a pinchedclosed inner end 32 and a coaxially enlarged outer end 34 within which atube 36 is press-fitted or otherwise secured. The tube 36 slidablyextends through an opening 38 in the front wall of the container, suchopening being provided with any suitablev gasket means 40.

The tube 36, which is rigid, has an upstanding outer end portion 42 and,adjacent the point of curvature, the tube 36 is provided at itsunderside, with a lateral sta-bilizing foot 44, which is adapted to seaton the bottom wall 24 of the tank.

It is to be noted that the tube includes a horizontal section 36a and avertical section 42. The horizontal section 36a enters the container 12in such a manner as to be in telescopic relation with the container. Byvirtue of such structural relationship of the tube 36 with thecontainer, the material container can be placed in any desirablesubterran'ean location in the tank. The container can, therefore, bemoved relative to the horizontal section 36a into any desired positionon the bottom wall of the tank.

The vertical section 42, as shown in Fig. 3, is fitted within a collar44 that depends from the underside of the base '36 of an air releasechamber 43. The ba'se 46 provided with an aperture aligned with thesection 42 of the tube and has an upstanding peripheral' flange 50. Thechamber 4S is composed of the base and a circular body 'member 52 whichfits within the flange 50. The body member has a conical upper endportion S4 which terfminates at its apex in an integral frusto-conicalfitting 56. The air release chamber is, thus, circular or round at itslower portion and tapers in a cone shape to the apex :Where it againtapers in a conical outlet. This construction is provided in order tofacilitate the passage of air bubbles up the exhaust tube 58 beforesmall bubbles have an opportunity to combine into larger bubbles.

The exhaust tube 58 is composed of two telescopic tubular sections 60and 62. The lower section 60 has the fitting 56 frictionally fitted inits lower end, as shown in Fig. 1, and has an outwardly beaded upper end64. The end 64 is outwardly flared in a rounded manner to provide africtional stop, as will be described. The section 60 telescopicallyfits within the upper section 62 which has an inturned lower end 66 thatcooperates with the end 62 in frictionally retaining the sections in thedesired telescopic relation. The upper section is rotatable on the lowersection and is slidable thereon to position it at the desired height andat the desired point. In the latter respect, the upper section is formedadjacent to and slightly below its upper end with an exhaust opening 68which constitutes the outlet for the water. Such opening 68 is formed inthe side wall of the upper section and is situated between the waterlevel and the top of the tube. Downward pressure exerted by the head ofwater formed above the exhaust opening 68 causes the admixture of airand water, which is lighter, to be expelled with considerable force fromthe side exhaust opening 68 which causes circulation of the water abovethe sand bed and prevents splashing on the lights and other fixtureswhich may be in use at the top of the tank. Due to the rotation of theupper section, the side exhaust opening can be directed toward any partof the tank. The telescopic arrangement of the sections of the exhausttube permit-- an adjustment as to height so that the most. efiicien'tflow may be realized from the exhaust tube.

rlhe upper end portion 54 of the air release chamber is formed with anoblique opening 70 in its side wall to slidably receive an air tubing 72which preferably extends within the air release chamber to the lowestpoint to contact the incoming Water and has a porous stone 74 fitted onits inner open end. The tubing 72 is attached to and supported by theair exhaust tube S8. In this respect, a holder 74 is fixedly circumposedon the lower section 60 and has a vertical opening through which thetubing 72 is fitted while a similar holder 76 is adjustably circumposedon the section 60 and has a similar opening to receive the tubing. Theholder 76 is adjustable vertically on the section 60 and is held inplace by a frictional fit. The tubing 72 terminates, at its upper end,in a suitable fitting 78 for attachment to the air supply hose (notshown) from a source of compressed air.

In Fig. 7, the pipe 30a is provided with a closed inner end which is notpinched shut, as in the case of the pipe 30.

In Fig. 4, the upper section 62a of the exhaust pipe 58a is formed withan upper obliquely cut end 80, which is cut o at an angle ofapproximately 50. Such end 80 functions in the same manner as theopening 68.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the chamber 48a is mounted in a support 82 which alsoconnects the chamber 48a with the tube 36a, which is constructedidentically to the tube 36. The support S2 is provided for use where itis not desired to use the container 12 of Figs. 1-3. The support 82includes a block 84 which has a vertical bore 86 formed therein and ahorizontal bore 8S formed therein. The bore 8S extends through the frontwall of the block and communicates with the vertical bore. The tube 36ahas an end fitted in the bore 88, as shown in Fig. 5. The block has acounterbore in its upper end and the lower end of the body member 52a isair-tightly fitted in the counterbore.

Oppositely extending lateral feet 92 and 94 project from the block andhave flat bottoms which are coplanar with the at bottom of the block andwhich rest on the bottom of the tank to support and stabilize the tube36a and the associated exhaust tube assembly 53a and air tubing 72a,which tube assembly and tubing are identical to that of Figs. 1 and 3.

While the best known forms of my invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, other forms may be realized as come within the scopeof the appended claims.

Having claimed is:

1. Means for treating the water in an aquarium tank provided with acontainer adapted to rest on the bottom of a tank and to be embedded inthe sand on the bottom of the tank, said container having a side wallformed adjacent its upper end with perforations and having filtermaterial therein, said container also having another side wall formedwith an opening adjacent its lower end, said treating means comprising apipe adapted to be slidably disposed in the opening, gasket meansenclosing the pipe adapted to fit in said opening, said pipe having aninner perforated end adapted to be disposed within the container at thebottom of the filter material, said pipe having an upstanding outer endportion, stabilizing means carried by the pipe adjacent its outer endportion and adapted to seat on the bottom of the tank, an air chamberfitted on the upper end portion of the pipe, means for conveying airunder pressure to the chamber connected thereto, and a verticallydisposed axially adjustable exhaust tubing mounted on the air chamberfor conveying the admixed air and water from the air chamber and saidexhaust tubing having an outlet means at its upper end for exhaustingthe water along the upper surface of the water.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air chamber includes acylindrical body member having an open lower end, a base member having acentral aperture and having a socket element depending therefromconcentric to the aperture and in which the upstanding end portion ofthe pipe is fitted, said base having an upstanding peripheral ange inwhich the lower end portion of the body member is fitted said bodymember having a tapered upper end portion terminating in afrustroconical fitting fitted within the lower end of said tubing.

thus described this invention, what is References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 45,153 Gunning Nov. 22, 1864 441,056Castor Nov. 18, 1890 1,055,082 Rogers Mar. 4, 1913 1,574,783 Beth Mar.2, 1926 2,294,973 Ford Sept. 8, 1942 2,614,529 Hansen Oct. 21, 19522,676,921 Vansteenkiste Apr. 27, 1954 2,730,496 Zavod lan. 10, 19562,748,075 Holvid May 29, 1956

